Tua Tagovailoa got paid like a franchise quarterback. But the Dolphins may already be second-guessing their $212.4 million investment.
After making it through a full season in 2023, Tagovailoa looked like the long-term answer in Miami. But that optimism didn’t last long. Last season, he missed six games due to concussion and hip issues — a familiar and frustrating pattern for a player who’s developed a reputation for being injury-prone.
The Dolphins handed him a four-year deal worth $53.1 million annually, hoping his health would hold and that his production would grow. Instead, both seem to have plateaued. And now, according to Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna, the warning signs are starting to pile up.
“It’s likely Tua won’t get better as a QB,” McKenna wrote. “He’ll simply stay at this plateau. At this juncture, the Dolphins are approaching a boiling point. Tyreek Hill seems to want out. Tagovailoa has only been successful with Tyreek, and that’s because Tyreek gets the most out of a quick-game master like Tua. If Hill goes, might things get worse for Tua? (Hint: Yes, almost definitely.)”
Hill’s future has come into question after a rocky finish to last season. While he’s remained with the team, his offseason comments suggested there may still be tension in the building.
“Every day I’m trying to prove myself as one of those guys that this team can depend on in crucial moments,” Hill said, via the Sun Sentinel. “It was tough, man. Obviously emotions were high then. But at the end of the day, I’m just looking to move forward from that. Hoping that I can prove myself and prove to my teammates that I’m still one of them ones, who chasing 2K (yards), still one of those ones chasing playoff dreams and all that great stuff.”
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The Dolphins built this offense around speed and rhythm, both of which rely heavily on Hill’s game-breaking ability and Tagovailoa’s quick release. But if either piece falters — whether through injury, regression, or separation — the foundation could fall apart.
Miami has already gone all-in. If Tagovailoa can’t evolve past what he’s already shown, or if the offense loses its most explosive weapon, the Dolphins may find themselves trapped in one of the league’s most expensive quarterback commitments.
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